Norwich – The City Council dealt with several real estate issues Monday, agreeing to sell two properties taken for back taxes, while delaying action on two proposed purchases of properties in key locations.

By ordinance, the council must refer proposed real estate acquisitions to the Commission on the City Plan for review. The commission will meet July 21 to review the proposed purchases of a small parking lot on lower Broadway and a vacant, rundown duplex at 232 Yantic St. to potentially expand the historic Uncas Leap park area.

The council is considering purchasing the former Dime Bank parking lot at 68 Broadway for $22,500. The lot is between the city Human Services Department building and Norwich Arts Center and would be used for public parking, Mayor Deberey Hinchey said.

Dime Bank had used the lot for its bank branch across the street, but now has spaces in the Wauregan Hotel Apartments parking garage adjacent to the bank. The bank erected a chain barrier to prevent anyone from accessing the lot. If the city approves the purchase, Hinchey plans to remove the chain as soon as possible and open the lot to help serve businesses in the lower Broadway block and the arts center.

A two-story fieldstone retaining wall forms the back of the parking lot between lower Broadway and Church Street. City Public Works Director Barry Ellison said the city hired a licensed structural engineer to inspect the wall last year.

“The study revealed some items to keep an eye on and some possible remedies that we should consider if we were to purchase the lot,” Ellison said in an email response to questions Monday. “If the sale is approved, and we purchase the lot it’ll be something that we inspect on a regular interval to make sure those items aren’t getting rapidly worse.”

The duplex at 232 Yantic St. borders city-owned land at Uncas Leap along the Yantic River. The City Council resolution proposes that the city purchase the property for $48,000 using part of a $270,000 state Department of Economic and Community Development grant received to help develop the Uncas Leap area as a heritage park.

Several months ago, the city hired Allyn & Associates Realtors to market various properties taken for back taxes. The council on Monday approved the sale of property at 22 Woodland Drive for $4,500 to Joseph Drea to combine the property with abutting land at 20 Woodland Drive and the sale of 221-223 Laurel Hill Ave. for $5,000 to Brent Devine.

The council also agreed to market a third property at 13 ½-15 Town St. through Allyn & Associates.

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